Preached by Chris Broom, 6/21/2009

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Paul Lonzo (center) is Baptized!

This sermon was preached on Fathers Day. Like God, we need to be a spiritual “father” to others. It can have a great impact on people. First and foremost, we need to honor our Father in heaven. The world is deprived of spiritual parenting. That’s what Jesus’ disciples are called to do.

Hebrews 11 is the “Hall of Faith.” It’s not an easy life, but with faith, God carried them through.

Hebrews 12:1-9
(verse 4) “In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.”
- Jesus resisted sin to the point of shedding blood. If Jesus took an easier road, we would not be forgiven of our sin.

(verse 6)
“the Lord disciplines those he loves…”
- Discipline: we need to learn to respect authority. Parents need to discipline their children, not in anger, but in faith. That’s not easy, but with God, we can do it.
- If we are true disciples, God will discipline us. If we’re not disciplined, we are illegitimate children.

(verse 9)
“submit to the Father of our spirits and live…”

(verse 11) Discipline is painful. Later it produces righteous and peace for those trained by God’s discipline.
- Seek first the kingdom (Matthew 6:33). You can’t get a harvest of righteousness by doing things your way. Submit to God.

Colossians 1:28-29
“We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.”
- Submit to God’s authority, including those disciples in your life.

Colossians 3:1-10
- Are you grateful that God has forgiven your sin?
- God’s wrath is coming because of sin. Rid yourself of sinful behavior.
- Set your minds on things above. If you are distracted at work or school, won’t you get disciplined by your boss or teacher? Focus on God.
- You are supposed to put your sin to death, not in time-out. When you bury a dead body, it would be gross to dig it up again and entertain it. That’s the same with sin. Keep it buried.
- When you are not on your A-Game spiritually, you go back to the flesh–the sinful nature. Look at David’s sin with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11) and her husband. Then look at Psalm 51 with David’s repentance.
- God, as a father, wants to gather us like a hen gathers her chicks under wings, but we must be willing (See Matthew 23:27).
- A frank confession about lust and anger was covered. Are you willing to submit to God? Get open with your sin. Confess to God and the disciples in your life. Get broken, get humble. Don’t be dull. Learn what mercy is all about.

Philippians 1:27
“Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ…”
- Are you living like this?
- Contend together for the gospel of Christ.
- Have a spiritual mindset about sin in your life.
- God needs you to step up.

A long and powerful excerpt of “Rocky Balboa” was read in closing. It’s about fatherhood and growing up and perseverance. “…It ain’t about how hard you can get hit; it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward…”

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